Patents by Inventor Robert Barfknecht

Robert Barfknecht has filed for patents to protect the following inventions. This listing includes patent applications that are pending as well as patents that have already been granted by the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO).

  • Patent number: 10408543
    Abstract: A liquid to refrigerant heat exchanger is provided having a stack of nested plates with fluid flow passages defined between the plates. The stack includes a condenser portion and a subcooler portion. A base plate at a bottom end of the stack has a refrigerant outlet port and a receiver bottle joined to it. A receiver flow path extends through a structural connection joining the receiver bottle to the base plate to allow for fluid flow between an internal volume of the receiver bottle and the condenser portion. Another receiver flow path extends through another structural connection to allow for fluid flow between an internal volume of the receiver bottle and the subcooler portion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 25, 2016
    Date of Patent: September 10, 2019
    Assignee: MODINE MANUFACTURING COMPANY
    Inventors: Robert Barfknecht, Jason Braun, Michael Eklund, Thomas Grotophorst, Jeffrey Hanson, Jean Lysoivanov, Kyle Shisler
  • Patent number: 10317143
    Abstract: A heat exchanger for transferring heat from a hot gas to a fluid includes two or more corrugated fin structures defining a plurality of hot gas flow channels extending in a generally linear first direction. A fluid conduit includes an outer wall at least partially bonded to at least two of the corrugated fin structures. The fluid conduit defines a plurality of sequentially arranged flow passes for the fluid traveling therethrough. Each of the plurality of flow passes directs the fluid in a direction generally perpendicular to the first direction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 19, 2016
    Date of Patent: June 11, 2019
    Assignee: MODINE MANUFACTURING COMPANY
    Inventors: Thomas Klaves, Edward Robinson, Gregory DaPra, Paul Fraser, Gregory Mross, Tony Rousseau, Robert Barfknecht, George Becke
  • Patent number: 10060680
    Abstract: A heat exchanger for transferring heat from a hot gas to a fluid includes two or more corrugated fin structures defining a plurality of hot gas flow channels. Each of the plurality of hot gas flow channels extends in a generally linear first direction. A fluid conduit includes an outer wall at least partially bonded to at least two of the corrugated fin structures. The fluid conduit defines a plurality of sequentially arranged flow passes for the fluid traveling therethrough. Each of the plurality of flow passes directs the fluid in a direction generally perpendicular to the first direction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 25, 2015
    Date of Patent: August 28, 2018
    Assignee: MODINE MANUFACTURING COMPANY
    Inventors: Thomas Klaves, Edward Robinson, Gregory Mross, Tony Rousseau, Robert Barfknecht, George Becke
  • Publication number: 20170108281
    Abstract: A heat exchanger for transferring heat from a hot gas to a fluid includes two or more corrugated fm structures defining a plurality of hot gas flow channels. Each of the plurality of hot gas flow channels extends in a generally linear first direction. A fluid conduit includes an outer wall at least partially bonded to at least two of the corrugated fin structures. The fluid conduit defines a plurality of sequentially arranged flow passes for the fluid traveling therethrough. Each of the plurality of flow passes directs the fluid in a direction generally perpendicular to the first direction.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 25, 2015
    Publication date: April 20, 2017
    Inventors: Thomas Klaves, Edward Robinson, Gregory DaPra, Paul Fraser, Gregory Mross, Tony Rousseau, Robert Barfknecht, George Becke
  • Publication number: 20170097194
    Abstract: A heat exchanger for transferring heat from a hot gas to a fluid includes two or more corrugated fin structures defining a plurality of hot gas flow channels extending in a generally linear first direction. A fluid conduit includes an outer wall at least partially bonded to at least two of the corrugated fin structures. The fluid conduit defines a plurality of sequentially arranged flow passes for the fluid traveling therethrough. Each of the plurality of flow passes directs the fluid in a direction generally perpendicular to the first direction.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 19, 2016
    Publication date: April 6, 2017
    Inventors: Thomas Klaves, Edward Robinson, Gregory DaPra, Paul Fraser, Gregory Mross, Tony Rousseau, Robert Barfknecht, George Becke
  • Publication number: 20160320141
    Abstract: A liquid to refrigerant heat exchanger is provided having a stack of nested plates with fluid flow passages defined between the plates. The stack includes a condenser portion and a subcooler portion. A base plate at a bottom end of the stack has a refrigerant outlet port and a receiver bottle joined to it. A receiver flow path extends through a structural connection joining the receiver bottle to the base plate to allow for fluid flow between an internal volume of the receiver bottle and the condenser portion. Another receiver flow path extends through another structural connection to allow for fluid flow between an internal volume of the receiver bottle and the subcooler portion.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 25, 2016
    Publication date: November 3, 2016
    Inventors: Robert Barfknecht, Jason Braun, Michael Eklund, Thomas Grotophorst, Jeffrey Hanson, Jean Lysoivanov, Kyle Shisler
  • Patent number: 8671921
    Abstract: The present invention provides an exhaust gas recirculation cooler for transferring heat from engine exhaust to coolant including a pair of spaced apart headers, a tube body extending between the pair of headers and positioned along a flow path for the coolant and at least partially defining a flow path for the engine exhaust along a length of the tube between the pair of headers, and a corrugated insert supported in an interior of the tube and having a height in a direction of a plurality of corrugations and a width between about 8.6 and about 13.5 times the height. The width can be substantially perpendicular to the length of the tube and can be substantially perpendicular to the height of the insert.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 1, 2008
    Date of Patent: March 18, 2014
    Assignee: Modine Manufacturing Company
    Inventors: Steven P. Meshenky, David Wesley Mast, Robert Barfknecht
  • Patent number: 8516699
    Abstract: A heat exchanger for transferring heat between a first working fluid and a second working fluid, including a pair of spaced apart headers, a number of tubes extending between the pair of headers and providing a flow path for the first working fluid and being positioned along a flow path for the second working fluid, and an insert supportable in one of the tubes and having a fold extending in a direction substantially parallel to the flow path for the first working fluid through the tubes. The fold can define first and second legs of the insert. A dimple can be formed on the first leg and a protrusion can be formed on the second leg opposite to the dimple on the first leg.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 22, 2011
    Date of Patent: August 27, 2013
    Assignee: Modine Manufacturing Company
    Inventors: Frank M. Grippe, Rifaquat Cheema, David E. Janke, Robert Barfknecht
  • Publication number: 20120066905
    Abstract: A heat exchanger for transferring heat between a first working fluid and a second working fluid, including a pair of spaced apart headers, a number of tubes extending between the pair of headers and providing a flow path for the first working fluid and being positioned along a flow path for the second working fluid, and an insert supportable in one of the tubes and having a fold extending in a direction substantially parallel to the flow path for the first working fluid through the tubes. The fold can define first and second legs of the insert. A dimple can be formed on the first leg and a protrusion can be formed on the second leg opposite to the dimple on the first leg.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 22, 2011
    Publication date: March 22, 2012
    Inventors: Frank M. Grippe, Rifaquat Cheema, David E. Janke, Robert Barfknecht
  • Publication number: 20110011376
    Abstract: The present invention provides an exhaust gas recirculation cooler for transferring heat from engine exhaust to coolant including a pair of spaced apart headers, a tube body extending between the pair of headers and positioned along a flow path for the coolant and at least partially defining a flow path for the engine exhaust along a length of the tube between the pair of headers, and a corrugated insert supported in an interior of the tube and having a height in a direction of a plurality of corrugations and a width between about 8.6 and about 13.5 times the height. The width can be substantially perpendicular to the length of the tube and can be substantially perpendicular to the height of the insert.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 1, 2008
    Publication date: January 20, 2011
    Inventors: Steven P. Meshenky, David Wesley Mast, Robert Barfknecht
  • Publication number: 20060081361
    Abstract: An oil cooler with a integral filter includes first and second elongated tubular headers (10, 12) in spaced parallel relation together with tube slots in each of the headers with the tube slots facing at an alignment with one another. Elongated flattened tubes (14) have their ends in aligned ones of the tube slots and are sealed thereto. Fins (18) extend between the tubes (14) in thermal conducting relation therewith. A filter housing (28) is mounted on the oil cooler and an oil filter element (40) is located within the housing (28).
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 13, 2004
    Publication date: April 20, 2006
    Inventors: Lawrence Gabbey, Thomas Lefeber, Robert Barfknecht, Steven Meshenky, LeRoy Goines, Peter Kottal, Richard Mielke, Baio Yu
  • Publication number: 20050058535
    Abstract: A compact rotary compressor unit within internal intercooling includes a rotary shaft (10) with at least one compressor wheel (14,16) mounted thereon for rotation therewith. The compressor wheel (14,16) has an inlet end (18) of relatively small diameter and a radial discharge end (20) of relatively large diameter. A nominally donut-shaped intercooling heat exchanger (42) is centered about the shaft (10) to receive compressed air from the compressor wheel and cool the same. Both the compressor wheel (14,16) and the heat exchanger (42) are confined in a housing (28).
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 16, 2003
    Publication date: March 17, 2005
    Inventors: Steven Meshenky, Robert Barfknecht, Kenneth Cornell, James Hennes, LeRoy Goines, Peter Kottal